Sport A leap into learning

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Sport A leap into learning?
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT agora
Thessaloniki organised by Cedefop 10 and 11 May
2004

• Fiona Aldridge, NIACE

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Background
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT

• NIACE Adult Participation in Learning Survey
• Sport and fitness activities learning or
  leisure?
• Research questions
• Who participates in sport and fitness activities?
• Is the profile of these participants different
  from the profile of those who participate in
  adult learning?
• Can an interest in sport lead adults into
  learning?
• Methodology nationally representative survey of
  over 6,000 adults aged 17 across the UK
• Examples of good practice

agora Thessaloniki, 10 and 11 May 2004
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Question
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT

• Respondents were asked which of the following
  statements most applied to them
• I currently participate in sport/and or a fitness
  activity
• I have participated in some sport-fitness
  activity in the last through years, although I
  dont do anything currently
• I have participated in some sport/fitness
  activity but it was over three years ago
• I have not participated in any sport/fitness
  activity since I left full-time education.

agora Thessaloniki, 10 and 11 May 2004
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Participation in sport and participation in
learning
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT
agora Thessaloniki, 10 and 11 May 2004
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Participation in sport and in learning, by gender
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT
agora Thessaloniki, 10 and 11 May 2004
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Participation in sport and in learning, by age
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT
agora Thessaloniki, 10 and 11 May 2004
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Participation in sport and in learning, by social
class
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT
agora Thessaloniki, 10 and 11 May 2004
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Participation in sport and in learning, by
employment status
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT
agora Thessaloniki, 10 and 11 May 2004
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Activities
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT

• Most popular activities swimming (36), walking
  (33) and keep-fit/yoga (24)
• Some activities more popular with particular
  groups of adults
• Individual rather than team sports
• Less likely to require learning but innovative
  projects have still been developed

agora Thessaloniki, 10 and 11 May 2004
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Location
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT

• Most popular locations leisure centres (38),
  at/from home (27), sports clubs (21).
• Few participated from their place of work or
  study
• Some locations more popular with particular
  groups of adults

agora Thessaloniki, 10 and 11 May 2004
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Motivation
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT

• Main motivating factors to keep health (62)
  enjoyment (58) to get fit (57)
• 7 motivated to maintain existing skills
• 5 motivated to learn new things or develop new
  skills
• Main barriers feeling too ill, old or disabled
  (30) no interest (29) time pressures (23)

agora Thessaloniki, 10 and 11 May 2004
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Frequency, length and level
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT

• One in seven participate daily and two-thirds at
  least once a week
• Walking, horse riding and cycling are the most
  common daily activities
• 50 have been involved for 10 years. Only 10
  have been involved for less than a year
• Level of skill and performance 39 getting
  better 50 staying the same 10 getting worse

agora Thessaloniki, 10 and 11 May 2004
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Spectating
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT

• 44 of respondents regularly followed sport as a
  spectator.
• Regular spectators were most likely to be male,
  young, students or in full-time employment

agora Thessaloniki, 10 and 11 May 2004
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leading into learning
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT

• 69 said their interest in sport has led them to
  learn more about the sport or club that they
  follow.
• Ways of learning
• Listening to radio or watching TV programmes
  (78)
• Reading magazines or books (34)
• Using the internet (14)
• Keeping records or statistics (8)
• Has encouraged me to receive coaching (8)

agora Thessaloniki, 10 and 11 May 2004
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Learning or leisure?
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT

• 64 who have learned more about their sport or
  club also claim that they have not studied or
  learned since leaving full-time education
• Explanations
• Information finding?
• Perception of activity as too informal to be
  regarded as learning?

agora Thessaloniki, 10 and 11 May 2004
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Widening participation
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT
agora Thessaloniki, 10 and 11 May 2004
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Widening participation
NEW APPROACHES TO VET THROUGH SPORT

• 40 of past learners and 27 of those who have
  not participated in learning since leaving FTE
  are current/recent participants in sport or
  fitness activities
• These respondents are likely to be male in their
  late 20s/eary 30s or over 55 in lower social
  classed and unemployed or retired.
• Reaching these groups through their interest in
  sport may prove to be an effective strategy for
  widening participation in learning

agora Thessaloniki, 10 and 11 May 2004